Copeland Distillery

Great things are happening on the Ard Peninsula east of Belfast. As you make your way to the little seaside town of Donaghadee, it is worth a stop off to visit Copeland Distillery. Grab a coffee or tea in the coffee shop at the very least, or take a tour and learn about the origins of the distillery and the history of the area.

The vision for this distillery came from the mind of Gareth Irvine who, at 22, set out to create his own line of spirits. He started with pink gin, but by 2019 had moved the operations to a larger facility in town and added whiskeys to the lineup. They are currently sourcing their main whiskey brand, Merchant’s Quay, but new make is being created with a target date of 2024 for the release. Copeland’s Jones 1778 Navy Strength Gin is hard for the whiskey lover to ignore. They age it for 120 days in ex-bourbon barrels, 20 days in Oloroso sherry barrels, and released at 57% ABV––it certainly turned this whiskey lover’s head.

This distillery is still a bit of a hidden gem, and tours can be informal. You’ll hear the history of nearby Copeland Island and the story of American patriot John Paul Jones. Tastings can include their gin and rum; I had the privilege of tasting their double-distilled chocolate malt, pot still, and peated malts, as well as a corn- and rye-based whiskey. The future of Copeland’s Irish whiskey looks bright.

As seen in "Experiencing Irish Whiskey."